Handheld electronic device with touch pad

ABSTRACT

An ergonomically held portable electronic device having a touch pad with a pressure sensitive simulated keyboard. The user places his or her fingers upon the touch pad in positions representing the keys of the keyboard. One quickly adjusts to the use of this improvised keyboard and is able to sense where to place one&#39;s fingers. Very quickly, an average user can be rapidly entering lengthy textual messages with ease.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to handheld electronic devices,such as portable or mobile computers, PC tablets or notebooks, e-books,other wireless telecommunications devices and palm pilots, and moreparticularly to a handheld electronic device that has an ergonomicallypositioned touch pad disposed on a rear portion thereof, in order toeasily and quickly input messages and information therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Handheld electronic devices, such as palm pilots and otherminiaturized, often wireless devices, usually provide a touch pen forthe user, in order to touch and enter letters displayed upon its screen.As any one who has ever spelled out a message in this fashion knows,such a procedure is very slow and cumbersome. Thus, users often havedifficulty putting information into the unit, to send e-mail or to writea memo.

[0003] The rationale for commercializing the palm pilot, specifically,is that it is not meant to replace a computer. Rather, the device isdesigned as a handy means for sending terse messages alerting the officevia e-mail, for updating a calendar, or for entering a phone number,sales order, or address, on the spur of the moment. At present, a palmpilot is nothing more than an enhanced, up-scale organizational tool. Toa greater or lesser extent, so too are other portable electronicdevices, such as PC tablets or notebooks.

[0004] Some users of such electronic devices, however, have sought amore traditional usage, by attaching small or reduced sized keyboards tothe unit, in an effort to readily enter text. This works fine for some,but is not a complete answer to the problem of text input. In the firstinstance, carrying a keyboard along with the miniaturized device greatlyreduces the convenience of having to carry only one small device uponone's person. In a second instance, the use of a keyboard with aportable device flies in the face of its intended usage, the purposebeing that of a mobile electronic device for use away from a desk orother flat surface.

[0005] These units have found a niche in the marketplace, but theirpresent text entering limitations impede a ubiquitous usage by thepublic. Clearly, it would greatly enhance the capabilities andcommercialization of palm pilots and other similarly situated hand helddevices, if textual inputs could more easily be entered.

[0006] The present invention seeks to provide miniaturized, portable,handheld electronic devices with a means by which an average user couldquickly spell out a message or otherwise enter textual information.

[0007] The current invention contemplates fitting an ergonomically heldtouch pad to the back of a portable electronic device for simulating akeyboard. The user places his or her fingers upon this touch pad inpositions representing the keys displayed on the screen of the unit. Onequickly adjusts to the use of this improvised keyboard, and is able tosense where to place one's fingers. Very quickly, an average user can bewriting lengthy textual messages using this apparatus. The apparatuscould be further enhanced by displaying on the front screen of thedevice a visualization of user finger placement, a trajectory of suchplacement, and the orientation of the fingers about the touch pad. Suchvisualization is used as a positive feedback learning tool, and can bedisabled, once touch typing on this pad is etched in the user's memory.The unit can comprise a switch for eliminating the display of one'sfinger positions, once the user is comfortable with the touch pad andits operation.

[0008] This invention also has in its purview to employ a limited usageof voice recognition vocabulary, in order to enhance the flexibility ofthe electronic device. The voice recognition capability would be used torecognize simple commands that invoke rapid changes of screen status(e.g., for the transmission of messages, for the storage of typed text,and for the shifting to spelling and thesaurus tools). In other words,voice recognition would be used as a substitute for key commands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with the present invention, there is featured ahandheld device, not unlike present day palm pilots, for input ofinformation. The handheld device comprises a display on the front face,and at least one touch pad on its rear face. The touch pad disposed uponthe rear face is used to simulate a keyboard for entering lettersdisplayed in keyboard fashion upon the front face of the unit.

[0010] In operation, the unit is held in both hands, with the thumbsresting upon the peripheral edge of the front face screen, and theremaining fingers disposed in a comfortable, ergonomic position aboutthe rear touch pad. The front screen keyboard display can have atraditional placement of keys, or it can be designed to conform to thefinger placement on the touch pad, not unlike certain commerciallyavailable ergonomic keyboards. The user of this handheld device would beable to rapidly enter text into the device. While the user ispositioning his or her fingers, the user can be shown where the fingersare being placed, to determine accurate positions thereof prior toactivating the specific key(s). A switch can be provided to disable thevisual display when the user is confident of his or her fingerpositions.

[0011] In a second embodiment of the invention, a limited usage of voicerecognition is implemented to enhance the flexibility of the electronicdevice. The voice recognition capability is used to recognize simplecommands that invoke rapid changes of screen status (e.g., for thetransmission of messages, for the storage of typed text, and for theshifting to spelling and thesaurus tools). In other words, voicerecognition would be used as a substitute for keystroke commands.

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedhandheld device for entering text.

[0013] It is another object of this invention to provide an improvedportable electronic device that comprises a simulated keyboard for therapid input of text.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtainedby reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered inconjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic, front perspective view of ahandheld portable electronic device, in accordance with the presentinvention;

[0016]FIG. 2 depicts a schematic, rear perspective view of the handheld,portable electronic device illustrated in FIG. 1; and

[0017]FIG. 3 shows a front view of the handheld, portable electronicdevice illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein finger placement upon the reartouch pad is displayed upon the front screen thereof.

[0018] For purposes of brevity and clarity, like components and elementsof the apparatus of this invention will bear the same designations ornumbering throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Generally speaking, the invention contemplates fitting anergonomically held touch pad to the back of a portable, miniaturizedelectronic device, for simulating a keyboard. The user places his or herfingers upon this touch pad in positions representing the keys displayedon the screen of the unit. One quickly adjusts to the use of thisimprovised keyboard, and is able to sense where to place one's fingers.Very quickly, an average user can be entering lengthy textual messagesrapidly and with ease.

[0020] Now referring to FIG. 1, a handheld, portable electronic device10 is shown in a front, schematic, perspective view, in accordance withthe present invention. The device 10 may be any one of a number ofelectronic devices including, but not limited to palm pilots, PCnotebooks or tablets, e-books and other wireless telecommunicationsdevices, and comprises a display 12 on the front face 15 thereof. Thedisplay 12 comprises an LCD screen, upon which the letters and numbers14 of an alphabet can be displayed in any order or fashion, but aregenerally displayed in the order befitting a standard or ergonomickeyboard format.

[0021] The device 10 is generally held in both hands, with the thumbs ofthe hand (not shown) disposed along the mid-portion of the respectivesides 11 and 19 of the peripheral border 17. The remaining four fingers22 (FIG. 3) of each hand are placed upon the touch pad 18 (FIG. 2)disposed on the back of device 10. The four fingers 22 of each hand areplaced in an ergonomically comfortable position, as can be visualized byAS holding any object by both hands, in front of one's person. Theplacement of the four remaining fingers 22 of each hand upon the touchpad 18, as shown in FIG. 3, will be explained hereinafter, withreference to positioning the fingers 22.

[0022] The alphanumeric characters displayed on the LCD screen display12 and the position of the fingers 22 in relationship thereto, as shownin FIG. 3, are used while positioning and activating the device 10, aswill be explained hereinafter. A switch 16 is disposed upon theperipheral border 17 of screen display 12, as depicted in FIG. 1. Switch16 can change the screen 12 to more traditional portable device displayformats, if the user has mastered the ability to enter text from thetouch pad 18 disposed upon the back of device 10, (FIG. 2) withoutpositive feedback.

[0023] Touch pad 18 can be a single pad, or it may comprise amultiplicity of separate pads (not shown), which are designed to fit thedigital fingers ergonomic pattern (exclusive of the thumbs) of eitherhand of the user. The touch pad 18 senses the depression of any one ormore fingers of the user, simultaneously (when using a multi-touch pad)or sequentially, and registers corresponding letters of the alphabetupon the screen display 12 of FIG. 1, while positioning the fingers, asillustrated in FIG. 3. The finger position display need not use all ofthe device display 12, but may be adjusted to one-half or one-quarter ofthe display 12 size, so that other information can continue to bepresented on the remainder of display 12. The threshold of the fingerdepression can be adjusted for the comfort of each individual by a slideswitch 25 disposed upon the side of the device 10. The slide switch 25can be moved along the slide well 27, as shown by arrows 29, in order toadjust the finger pressure necessary to register the position of afinger adjacent a textual character input for fingers 22.

[0024] This first, threshold pressure allows the user to determine theposition of the fingers but is not sufficient to activate the keys. onlywhen the fingers bear down with greater pressure, exceeding a secondthreshold pressure, are the desired characters selected and displayed onthe main portion of the display 12. The input of text is displayed innormal fashion, as one is used to viewing a train of text upon acomputer screen. The slide switch 25 disposed in slide well 27 is usedto move back and forth among pressure threshold positions 28 a, 28 b,and 28 c, respectively, as shown by arrows 29. In this way, differentusers can adjust the device 10 for their individual positioning(“light”) touch and also their individual activation (“heavier”) touch.

[0025] As aforementioned, the device 10 is generally held in both hands,with the thumbs of the hand (not shown) disposed along the mid-portionof the respective sides 11 and 19 of the peripheral border 17 (FIG. 1).The remaining four fingers 22 on each hand are placed upon the touch pad18 in an ergonomically comfortable position, as can be visualized byholding any object by both hands, in front of one's person. Theplacement of the fingers 22 upon the touch pad 18 can be seen in thepositioning mode, shown upon the display 12 of FIG. 3.

[0026] As aforementioned, the keyboard configuration can be traditional,ergonomic, or other, as befits the preference of the user. The devicecan be software implemented with a variety of keyboard configurations,which the user can select to assist in his or her adaptation to thedevice 10. Zones on the keypad can be assigned to keys. For example, agrid of zones forming six columns and five rows, not shown, results inthirty zones, each of which can represent a unique character. Alsodisplayed on the screen 12 while positioning the fingers 22 (FIG. 3) arethe placement of the fingers 22, which show the relationship between thefingers 22 and the characters 14 of the chosen keyboard configuration,as well as the trajectory of the fingers 22 leading up to their presentpositions.

[0027] When the second pressure threshold is exceeded, the display 12presents text in sentences and paragraphs using a word processingformat. In other words, at or beyond the first pressure threshold of thetouch pad 18, the finger positions are displayed on display 12; at orbeyond the second pressure threshold of the touch pad 18, the charactersare actually activated and input to the system. The device 10 can beprogrammed to provide a particular word processing capability as befitsthe user, understanding that such capability is operative withkeystrokes only, since one would not have the benefit of a mouse.

[0028] Such keystrokes can be invoked from a tool bar or can be invokedby voice recognition. Voice recognition can be limited only to certainkeystroke commands, such as: “send the e-mail message”, “store thetext”, “spell check”, etc. In the future, when voice recognitiontechnology improves, it is contemplated that voice recognition can takeover or supplement the traditional textual input method describedherein.

[0029] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particularoperating requirements and environments will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to theexample chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes andmodifications which do not constitute departures from the true spiritand scope of this invention.

[0030] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to beprotected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld device for rapidly and easilyinputting text, comprising: a display for showing the input of text; anda touch pad disposed adjacent said display that simulates a keyboard,said touch pad being pressure sensitive, wherein finger pressure willinput textual information upon said display.
 2. The handheld device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said device further comprises means forindicating finger positions on said touch pad.
 3. The handheld device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said device further comprises means foradjusting pressure threshold of said touch pad, below which said displayis dormant and above which said finger positions are displayed.
 4. Thehandheld device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said touch padcomprises a keyboard simulated for ergonomic placement of fingers. 5.The handheld device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said touch padcomprises a simulated standard keyboard configuration.
 6. The handhelddevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein said touch pad comprises amultiplicity of finger sensitive pressure zones.
 7. The handheld devicein accordance with claim 1, wherein said touch pad is positioned behindsaid display.
 8. The handheld device in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid display comprises an LCD screen.
 9. The handheld device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said display comprises means fordisplaying text in a word processing format.
 10. The handheld device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said touch pad comprises means foradjusting finger pressure necessary for activating said keyboard andinputting text.
 11. A handheld portable electronic device for inputtingtext in a relatively rapid manner, comprising: a display for showing theinput of text; and a touch pad disposed adjacent said display thatsimulates a keyboard, said touch pad being pressure sensitive, whereinfinger pressure inputs finger positions and textual information uponsaid display.
 12. The handheld portable electronic device in accordancewith claim 11, wherein said device further comprises means fordistinguishing thresholds for pressure applied to said touch pad. 13.The handheld portable electronic device in accordance with claim 12,wherein pressure below a predetermined threshold applied to said touchpad by the fingers of a user results in said display indicatingpositions of said fingers relative to said touch pad and pressure abovesaid predetermined threshold applied to said touch pad by the fingers ofa user results in said textual information being entered into saiddevice and displayed on said display.
 14. The handheld portableelectronic device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said touch padcomprises a keyboard simulated for ergonomic placement of fingers. 15.The handheld portable electronic device in accordance with claim 11,wherein said touch pad comprises a simulated standard keyboardconfiguration.
 16. The handheld portable electronic device in accordancewith claim 11, wherein said touch pad comprises a multiplicity of fingersensitive pressure pads.
 17. The handheld portable electronic device inaccordance with claim 11, wherein said touch pad is positioned behindsaid display.
 18. The handheld portable electronic device in accordancewith claim 11, wherein said display comprises an LCD screen.
 19. Thehandheld portable electronic device in accordance with claim 11, whereinsaid display comprises means for displaying text in a word processingformat.
 20. The handheld portable electronic device in accordance withclaim 11, wherein said touch pad comprises means for adjusting fingerpressure necessary for activating said touch pad and inputting text.